Hakim: Responsibility Rests on Current Political System's Failure and Hezbollah's Complete Control

Kataeb Political Bureau and former Minister of Economy, Professor Alain Hakim, extended greetings to the people in the South who are facing the war amidst this economic crisis and suffering due to the irresponsibility of some.

He pointed out that it has become clear today, after 100 days of the war, that there is a complete annulment of the concept of "resistance" because "what we witness is merely an intense exchange of heat in the conflict along the borders."

"In recent days, there has been a dragging or withdrawal of what remains of the Lebanese state into positions aligned with Hezbollah, especially when we talk about Lebanon's entanglement with the situation in Gaza. According to Hezbollah, the Lebanese front is a supportive front for Gaza, and Lebanon is left to its own devices with no responsibility towards the Lebanese people. The evidence for this is that many countries with significant military capabilities have refrained from entering this war because the interests of their people and sovereignty are far more important than external interests. All we see indicates a waste of time within the rules of the game between Hezbollah and Israel," Hakim said in an interview with Voice of Lebanon.

"Today, the responsibility lies in the incapacity of the current political system and the complete control of Hezbollah, which has kidnapped the country. This is consistently emphasized by the Kataeb Party through official statements. It is essential to note that the war is not in southern Lebanon but in Gaza. However, the faction controlling the country through its arms has dragged Lebanon into this war today, as happened in 1975, leading us to the current situation," he noted.

"We affirm that the majority of the Lebanese people reject this situation. We support the Palestinian cause and people, but without any military intervention from Lebanon because the country's capabilities cannot bear it," he added.

In a related context, he continued, "Diplomatic pressure on Israel yields results, as seen recently in the complaint filed by South Africa with the International Court of Justice, a clear indication of its effectiveness."

Hakim pointed out that sovereignty in Lebanon exists in certain areas but is absent in others, such as the border villages subject to Hezbollah's control.

"We cannot speak of the existence of constitutional institutions unless they are sovereign, representing Lebanese interests and the Lebanese citizen. Therefore, the intentional absence of a president was aimed at dismantling the state in service to Iran's policy in the Middle East," he said.

"Is there any sovereign Lebanese citizen who prioritizes ending the war in Gaza at the expense of domestic solutions?" he asked.

"We, as Kataeb Party, affirm that we cannot accept this and wait for their settlements because we stand for Lebanon's interests first and foremost. Any other party that says 'let's wait and see' is a non-Lebanese party," he stressed.

"Hezbollah is present in the war, and its objective has been and continues to be empowering the Iranian influence and maintaining it in the Middle East. Iran's presence in the region is for its own benefit, not Lebanon's. The disregard for international laws capable of protecting us, starting from the ceasefire agreement to UNSC Resolution 1701, is due to the overwhelming coercive power that controls and kidnaps the country. UNSC Resolution 1701 was not fully implemented, and it could be a foundation for the forthcoming settlement. Hence, we emphasize the efforts of the Kataeb Party in Lebanon because we will not accept selling Lebanon once again," Hakim emphasized.

"We all have confidence that the Lebanese army is capable of asserting its control over the southern borders to prevent any encroachment on Lebanese sovereignty. What is required now for the upcoming phase is the literal implementation of UNSC Resolution 1701. The problem in Lebanon today is not Christian-Muslim; rather, it is a difference in Lebanese interests, sovereignty, and nationalism. We are facing two cultures: one is mercenary and kidnapping the country, and the other is Lebanese, sovereign, and nationalist," he added.

"The Palestinian cause is undoubtedly a priority, but not at our expense," he stressed.

Hakim affirmed that the major issue today lies in the existence of illegal weapons.

"The solution lies in finding a way to deal with these weapons rather than changing the system," he stated.

He emphasized the Kataeb Party's rejection of any bargaining on the presidential file and the upcoming settlement.

Hakim highlighted the Kataeb Party's active role in conveying its stance abroad through the visits of the Kataeb Leader MP Samy Gemayel, and successive meetings with ambassadors inside Lebanon.

He also noted Gemayel's efforts on the ground to unify and empower the opposition front.

Regarding the budget, Hakim revealed that the 2024 budget is abnormal and impractical in its current form.

"The substantial amounts allocated to continue the fighting on the southern borders, along with the high cost required for the reconstruction of the affected region, make this budget a burden on the Lebanese citizens," he said.

"Our principles are clear, and the principle of necessity prevails over all other issues. Suspending the constitution will be exceptional because circumventing the constitution is the basis of Hezbollah and its allies' actions," Hakim concluded.